Single 18650 Flood to Throw (Zoom) with XM-L

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
1

I am looking for another XM-L flood to throw, again. The overall surface brightness maybe less then that of the XR-E but I am going for the XM-L now. I want more lights! The bigger the lenses the more throw but the bigger the light. As long as it can throw further then an SK68 and is around the size of the lights in the links I am happy.

I just ordered the unbranded light in the link below. Not sure which one of these throws the best below. I don’t want to bigger head, I know I’m loosing out on throw but zoom lights are growing on me. In fact, I really like them. And after owning tons of lights I am starting to like the XM-L a little bit more then I used to. I barely touch my perfect PA40 now anymore(perfect beam no donut hole, not that it’s a big deal if any)

Never though I’d be into zoom lights. It grew on me. I feel like I can control my beam and since it’s pretty new to me I like it allot. So help me decide and if you have any to add to the list below around the same size/shape as the ones in my links then let me know so I can add it. Maybe someone has all the lgihts in the links and knows?

Thanks again BLF.

UltraFire 1800 Lumens Zoomable

Keygos(unknown model) CREE XM-L U2 LED Headlamp Zoom Headlight (I already bought this light, waiting for it to come)

” CANSO Zoomable CREE XM-L T6”:http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANSO-Zoomable-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-3Mode-650Lumens-ZOOM-Flashlight-Torch-B06-/250954289311

KEYGOS M12

TrustFire Z3

Yezl T8X MK II Raptor

Yezl T9

SS-A100

SKY RAY 1200 Cree XM-L T6 3-Mode Flood-to-Throw

POPPas W-878 XM-L T6

So what’s the best thrower of these? I like a nice tight bright beam when zoomed out. It makes me happy.

2

Well, i do have great list here for reference at least.

3

It’s certainly a decent list, it’s just that I don’t think there are many people around here who have a sizable collection of flood-to-throw lights sporting an XM-L, which is why you’re not getting much feedback.

Personally, I have this on the way, which will be my first. It’s a SIPIK branded version of the light in your first link. I’m not expecting it to be great, but something about it appeals to me anyway, and it’s cheap, so it’s no big risk.

4

From the list, I’ve got the yezl t9, and poppas W-878, the yezl throws further with a bigger lens, and the poppas is a bit floodier, but it accepts 26650 which is a good thing.

If you are looking more for throw than flood, you might prefer one with an XR-E instead, they throw further, but they are worese on flood, think about it.

5

I have the M12 and the ultrafire 1800 Lumens 12W Zoomable.

I REALLY like the M12 (after fixing the zoom o-ring issue) and want to like the 1800 Lumens 12W Zoomable, but the latter has two large cons: Flickering low mode and won’t tailstand.

I am a big fan of zoomers (gives my fidgetty fingers something to fidget with) but don’t have exactly any of the other lights, though I do have two similar-looking no-name “tulip-shaped” T6s.

I like the M12 best.

The details: The M12 uses a METAL o-ring (described in another BLF review) that wants to work, but doesn’t. The zoom lense will zoom out by itself if you simply hold the light upside down. First, I tweaked the metal o-ring so that it applied more pressure to the zoom module, but it wasn’t quite enough. Close though. I probably could have got it to work with more fiddling, but I switched to a rubber o-ring, as described by another budgeteer in his highly recommended M12 review. Works PERFECT now. Well, the zoom is a TINY bit easier to push than I would like, but I am splitting cat hairs by even bringing it up.

As I said, I really like zoomies. Probably 80% of my 35 lights are zoomers, and the M12 (just got 3 days ago) is up at the top with any I have. I am a newbie so perhaps I don’t have the trained eye of experienced BLFers, but the construction is SOLID. No flickering. Slightly off center emitter mount, but very slight. Artifacts are about as good as any T6 zoomers I have seen.

The”pill” is aluminum and threads in for best heat transfer. Nice ano. Nice lubed threads. No big defects I could see. NO (NONE) heat problem. Thing never even gets warm.

It is the brightest T6 zoomer I have, although the brightness difference in some lights is very slight. The beam circumference is BIG because the case will also run on the larger battery. SOLID tailstander. NO flickering I could see on any power.

Another con might be the two blinky modes, but that’s the only cons for me. I REALLY like this thing, except it is a little large. You might pocket it in a jacket or 6-pocket army surplus pants, but it’s too big really for a jeans pocket. Haven’t been able to find a holster yet because of the 26650 size, but I’m sure I will. I’m not quite sure what your parameters are, but I think this light would be a good addition to any zoom collection. Plus I like its look and feel in the hand.

I said it all for the 1800 Lumens 12W Zoomable …. Could be a good light but it has two strikes in my book against it: Flickering low power and won’t tailstand. Because of the tail-cap design, you can’t tweak it with o-rings to recess the button further. The retaining plate screws into the housing with like three turns so can’t be really moved any significant distance. I am thinking of finding another tailcap but … I’d still have the flickering low. Too bad. It could have been a good light.

As for the others, I have some similar-looking tulip shaped 18650 zoomies. There’s nothing wrong with them but the M12 is a better light, I think.

I do like the zoom Ultrafire copy of the spipik s98. As you may have read, the s98 has a heat problem. The ultrafire version uses what apears to be the same host but doesn’t heat up as fast. It does get pretty warm after 15 minutes, but you can keep the temp cooler but switching to a lower NO-FLICKER power for 30 secs or so. Once the battery sags a bit, I can leave it on full power without fear of it getting too hot.

Here is where I will have to defer to those with more knowledge: Apparently these s98s do NOT have a metal “pill.” From what I read, it’s plastic. Theoretically, it can get too hot and melt the solder or the plastic. Mine has gotten pretty damn warm, without damage but YMMV. However, for a pocketable light, my ultrafire s98 clone goes with me everywhere. It is only slightly (5-10%) less bright than the real s98 (have one) and slightly less bright than the M12. Yes, it has a cheap pill and may melt if left on high too long, but I REALLY like it. Good spot. Good zoom. Small. Pocketable. Looks like the venerable s68. Tailstands like a champ.

One con is however that it turns on in the mode AFTER whatever you shut it off in. Not the end of the world but I’d rather have it start in high. Oh, and the clip may or may not break at some time. Saw a thread somewhere on another forum that a buyer had a broken clip because of the clip design.

I am NOT endorsing these sellers but I got one from each without problems, about 2-3 weeks:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270974371898?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110876053142?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&\_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

That’s it for now. Hope this helps. Happy 4th!

6

I already have my xre fix. I am actually looking for xre ez900 r2 emitters but cant find them.
The yezl t9 looks nice. I do want it the lense looks pretty big.
i got this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CREE-XM-L-U2-LED-Headlamp-Zoom-Headlight-Bicycle-Light-Flashlight-Torch-Zoomable?item=251060235556&cmd=ViewItem&\_trksid=p5197.m7&\_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8897711351938132651#ht_4331wt_825.

Wonder if this will outthrow a sipik sk68, it has xml in the u2 bin and he reflector looks fairly big. Might order the yezl t9

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I got this some time back

Small, real bright……and……real hot after 5 mins of use

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8989647145

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The convertible headlamp you ordered looks to have the same head as the one I got, see this thread mine is the last post. I like this light. The other Keygos one might be an updated M12, which is a nice torch too, but quite a bit bigger, not really one for the pocket

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I ended up getting this:
http://www.cnqualitygoods.com/goods.php?id=1107

I cancelled my other one when I realized for some reason I actually forgot to pay. No wonder it didn’t ship out lol.
Anyways, Yezl T9 has a big head. So I went with it.

Don’t know if it’s regulated, don’t know if it’s overdriven, hoping it’s got a night tight hotspot.
Anyone have this light? What’s OTF output?

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Hey that looks like a REAL interesting zoomer. Please post your impressions when you get it …. I might want to order one also.

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I’ve got the previous version, it had 5 modes I think, I left it direct drived.

I don’t know how this one is driven, but it now it has a momentary switch, mine doesn’t.

It has ramp mode which is a nice thing to have, and doesn’t have memory.

It works as follows from the info given by Aleguscas,a user from forolinternasled.com from Spain:

When the light is off:
Click once: 100%
Click twice: strobe at 1 hz
Click thrice strobe at 5 hz
Click four times: strobe at 9 hz
Click five times: S.O.S

When the light is on:
Click twice: 50%
Click thrice: 25%
Click four times: 10%
Clicking five times you acces the ramp mode.

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Which light are you talking about? The Yezl T9?

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I got my smallsun zys yeaterday. I’m still waiting on on my yezl t9 coming. One thems gonna go after i compare see which one i like more. I’ll let you guys know how the t9 is when i get it.

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The yezl t9 is amazing.

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Can you elaborate more? I am looking to add that Yezl to my collection but I’m not sure how it performs.

16

I had a Small Sun ZYS, when I got this I wanted to sell the ZYS right away.
I can see the throw better and it retracts far from the emitter giving it a very bright hotspot. I like this much better then the ZYS in every way possible. The T9 has a electronic switch that feels/looks like a clicky i keep pressing it hard as if it were a clicky.

It throws real well, I can see the throw better then my ZYS. The ZYS throw is to narrow even far away as well as have a narrow dim flood beam. I strongly recommended over the ZYS despite the ZYS reported lux that I am just not seeing that well do to the narrow beam.

The Flood area had my eyes widening it was very bright clean flood. Like a Sipik SK68 on steroids. I just may buy another. This is my favorite light.

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This is the one I picked up a little while off Ebay which looks to be exactly like the SKY RAY one you have posted. I think the one this that definitely stands out about the light is at its widest zoom position (flood) it is definitely the widest flood out of the 4 zooms I have picked up since getting into flashlights and finding this forum last month. At 1foot from the wall there is two distinct circles of lights, the inner (direct) bright one is about 21inches while the outside (reflected?) is 24 inches in diameter.

18

The yezl t9 i had and loved died. I was unable to figure out if it had a direct drove or if it was regulated. I got another coming. And they had said they sent a replacment.